Dear Editor,

I recently read that a move is afoot to possibly rename Charlemont High School as the Asafa Powell High School. This is being led by the Asafa Powell Foundation Chairman and Kingston College Old Boy, Mr Delano Franklyn.

I am perplexed by his logic. Mr Franklyn thinks that because Asafa has run 65 races in under 10 seconds he is deserving of this honour. He was quoted in the print media: “It is not John Brown we are talking about or Mary Jane. We are talking about Asafa Powell.”

I cannot agree with this action, as Charlemont High is a well known and established educational institution and should not be renamed. I could very well understand that if a new school were being built and a request was made to name it in honour of Asafa, then Mr Franklyn would have my backing.

Precedent has been set, because previously other high schools and even roads have been named in honour of our previous and current athletic and sports giants, such as: Merlene Ottey High, Herb McKenley High, Don Quarrie High, Arthur Wint Drive, Collie Smith Drive, Courtney Walsh Road and the soon-to-be Usain Bolt Highway, to name a few.

I put it to Mr Franklyn, as a KC old boy, would he back the renaming of his alma mater in honour of any its past or future distinguished alumni? If Asafa Powell had attended Kingston College, would Mr Franklyn support KC being renamed in honour of him? I think not!

To rename KC would be unheard of and resoundingly denounced by the vocal KC Old Boys’ Association, the Board, the school body and I daresay the Anglican Bishop. Maybe a science block, a building or a playground could be renamed. In fact, KC has its forms named in honour of its past stalwarts and Anglican bishops – Gibson (Bishop Percival William), Forrest (Douglas), deCarteret (Bishop), Hardie (Bishop), Smith (O’Neil Gordon “Collie”) Holding (Michael and family), and so on.

For that matter, would any “traditional” and “prestigious” high school in Jamaica ever rename itself to honour an alumnus? It would not happen. Why then Charlemont? Is it because it does not have the prestige of other “notable” and “reputable” educational institutions? I think this is the only reason such a consideration is being made by Mr Franklyn, because he thinks so.

The Charlemont High School Past Students’ Association has my support on this issue in rejecting this proposed name change.

Dr Stefan Hemmings

kcheadboy96_97@yahoo.com